Valentina Nacinovich

My Story

My passion for yachting began in my youth, where I would spend every summer sailing in the Tyrrhenian Sea, just off the coast of my native country, Italy. I’ve always had a love for sailing and the ocean, and I knew I wanted to pursue a career that would keep me close to water.

I trained as a Naval Architect at the University of Pisa, followed by a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Perugia. Shortly after completing these studies, I was fortunate to find myself working for some of the most iconic yacht builders worldwide. Initially as a Project Manager and later as Head of Engineering and then onto Chief of Operations. Throughout this experience I was part of the delivery of some unique and revolutionary projects.

I’m deeply passionate about innovation and sustainability and continue to push the boundaries of yacht design in this industry. I joined Y.CO in 2022 and currently oversee mega yacht new builds and refits for our clients at prominent shipbuilders in Northern Europe.

Valentina's Background

Over her career, Valentina has demonstrated a remarkable track record of delivering results and driving transformative change within the luxury industry. She excels in managing intricate relationships, including UHNWI clients and international partners. Her entrepreneurial spirit and financial acumen led her to complete an Executive MBA in London, enhancing her ability to pioneer new business models and strategies, while directly shaping, driving, and securing valuable business opportunities.

Since joining Y.CO she has been part of the successful delivery of a 109m yacht and continues to spearhead these new build projects.